Cultural Beliefs and Participatory AI: Unlocking Untapped Catalysts for Climate Action
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. The Need for Behavioral Transformation
- What are the underlying values that can drive this inner transition?
- Who are the key agents for initiating and sustaining such a transformation?
- How can these changes scale across societies?
- Can an inner transformation genuinely lead to sustained socio-ecological behavior change?
1.2. The Need for Technological Transformation
1.3. An Integrated Approach
- Cultural belief systems as catalysts for large-scale behavioral change toward sustainability.
- Participatory AI as a mechanism for improving climate resilience and natural disaster management, here shown particularly for flood response.
2. The Role of Cultural Belief Systems for Driving Socio-Ecological Transformation
- Religious beliefs: Encompassing organized religions, spiritual practices, and notions of divine or supernatural forces.
- Ethical and moral values: Establishing what is considered right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, and guiding interpersonal behavior.
- Social norms: Defining expectations regarding behavior, roles, and relationships within society (e.g., gender roles, family structures, and social hierarchies).
- Worldviews: Offering a collective understanding of life, nature, time, fate, and existential meaning.
- Traditions and rituals: Embodying customs, ceremonies, and practices rooted in religious or historical significance.
- Symbols and myths: Expressed through narratives, imagery, or objects that hold deep cultural meaning and represent fundamental beliefs.
3. Bridging Technology and Society: Pathways for Implementing Participatory AI
3.1. Methodological Layer: Tools and Techniques for Participatory AI
3.2. Governance Layer: Structuring Collaboration and Accountability
3.3. Practical Application Layer: Participatory AI in Action
4. Discussion: Bringing Both Drivers Together
“Individualistic trends in society might be responsible for a growing pattern of private adaptation to environmental threats, whereby new technologies (own emphasis) and access to resources increasingly support individuals reducing risk for themselves, their families, and businesses. These trends can influence how people act to reduce personal exposure to environmental risks, such as extreme weather events (…) Such actions might come at the expense of mitigating environmental damage and, if they hamper resilience for others, also raise questions around environmental justice”.
5. Future Directions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
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Ahrweiler, P. Cultural Beliefs and Participatory AI: Unlocking Untapped Catalysts for Climate Action. Sustainability 2025, 17, 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094172
Ahrweiler P. Cultural Beliefs and Participatory AI: Unlocking Untapped Catalysts for Climate Action. Sustainability. 2025; 17(9):4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094172
Chicago/Turabian StyleAhrweiler, Petra. 2025. "Cultural Beliefs and Participatory AI: Unlocking Untapped Catalysts for Climate Action" Sustainability 17, no. 9: 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094172
APA StyleAhrweiler, P. (2025). Cultural Beliefs and Participatory AI: Unlocking Untapped Catalysts for Climate Action. Sustainability, 17(9), 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094172